Japan offers compensation for people who get infected with COVID-19 at work

Japan's health ministry is encouraging people who caught COVID-19 at work to apply for government compensation that covers lost salary and medical expenses. This includes people suffering a variety of mid- and long-term symptoms after a workplace-related infection.

Claims by more than 20,000 people have already been accepted since screening began two years ago. Information about how to apply is available in the 14 languages listed at the end of this article.

Who is eligible?

People whose infection route is clearly linked to their workplace
Staff in a workplace setting that places them at high risk of infection, even if the transmission route is unknown
Doctors, nurses and elderly care workers, in principle, unless it is clear that the infection took place outside work
Any of the above who develop post COVID-19 condition, also known as "long COVID"

Classification of workers

All types of workers who contract the virus are eligible for compensation, including part-time and casual staff. They must make the claim themselves. If proof-of-infection information from a company is unavailable due to unknown infection sources, consult the Labor Standards Inspection Office.

Bereaved families can also apply for benefits.

Three types of benefits

The following benefits are available to relieve financial stress caused by work-related COVID-19 infections:

Medical Compensation Benefits

Free treatment is available, in principle, at medical institutions designated in the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance scheme. If a patient has to be treated elsewhere, they can apply for full reimbursement.

Temporary Absence from Work Compensation Benefits

If a patient is absent from work for medical treatment or recuperation, and is not paid a salary for days missed, they are eligible. Eighty percent of their wages will be paid from the fourth day of absence.

Surviving Family Compensation Benefits

The bereaved family of a worker who has died of an infection through work can receive the Surviving Family Compensation Pension, and the Surviving Family Compensation Lump Sum, among other offerings.

Prefectural Labor Bureaus, or Labor Standards Inspection Offices, can help with claims.
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/kouseiroudoushou/shozaiannai/roudoukyoku/index.html

Some municipal offices are offering support measures for long-COVID sufferers, including help for their return to work and re-employment.

*Related articles:
・Coronavirus financial aid in 2022 (May 17, 2022)
・Japan starts long COVID study while guiding doctors on treatment for sufferers (May 9, 2022)
・Study finds nearly quarter of patients suffer from long COVID (Nov. 30, 2021)

Information in multiple languages

This article was published on June 10, 2022.

Nakanishi Nao

NHK World
Producer